Turn-table



No-Mom. a sheenssne'et l.

J. D. BOWMAN. v

. TURNTABLE. No. -389,541. Patented Sept.'18, 1888.

N. PETERS. PhniuLithogr-lp'wr. Washinmom D Q UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. BOWMAN, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TU RN-TAB LE.

$PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,541, datedSeptember 18, 1888.

Application filed April 26,1S88. Serial No. 271,956. (No model.)

. To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN D. BOWMAN, of Altoona, county of Blair, Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement inTurn-Tables, of which the following use. true and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to .the construction of railway turntables, and hasfor its object to provide means whereby such turn-tables may be operatedby power in a way at once simple, cheap,and under perfect control and itconsists of the devices hereinafter particularly described, andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference being now had to the drawings, which illustrate my invention,Figure 1 is a side elevation of a turn-table embodying myinvention,showing a locomotive in place on said table and with itsair-brake system coupled to the supply-pipe of the actuating-engine.Fig. 2 is also a side elevation of a turn-table embodying my inventionwith parts cutaway, so as to show the actuating-engine, an airstoragetank, and a system of conduits,valves, &c.,whereby the engine issupplied with air and actuated by the operator. Fig. 3 is a plan view ofthe same. Fig. 4. is a diagram showing another form of engine foractuating the table and the system of pipes, valves, &c., which Icontemplate using with this form of engine, which I may here say is theone I prefer using. Fig. 5 is an end view of the table shown in Fig. 4,and is taken on sectional lines adapt-ed to show the construction of theengine and its mode of attachment to the table and of actuating thesame. Fig. 6 is a View of the device or head on the end of the pistonrodof the engine shown in Fig. 5 and of the rack with which said head isadapted to engage. Fig. 7 is asectional view of the con trollingoperating-cock; and Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively an elevation and aplan showing how compressed air or steam can be supplied to the enginefrom engines in the yard, but not actually on the table.

- A in all the figures represents the turn-table, which may be of anyordinary construction.

A are the trailing wheels, and A the circular track on which said wheelsrun.

B is the pit in which the table is placed.

D is the central pivot on which the table upon it are placed t womiter-wheels, e 6, en-

gaging the teeth of a miter-wheel, c, on opposite sides thereof, saidwheel 0 being secured on the end of the shaft 0. A clutch-lever, K, isarranged so as to engage either of the wheels 6 c with the shaft onwhich they are journaled, and the shaft 0 is of course rotated indifferent directions, according to which wheel 6 is en gaged with theshaft.

I designates a pipe one end of which has a hose, J, secured to it and soplaced as to be in position to couple with the air-brake hose of theengine or tender on the table. As shown, this pipe I runs to areservoir-tank, F, where a supply of compressed air can be stored, avalve, preferably automatic, being inserted in the end of the pipe I orhose J to prevent the air from escaping by the way it enters. Suchvalves would be, for instance, at z or j, or in both places.

G is a pipe which, as shown, connects at one end with the pipe I and atapoint where the communication with the reservoir F is uninterrupted (orit might come directly out of reservoir F, as indicated in Fig. 8) atone end of the table. This pipe comes above the level of the road-bed,forming a loop, the top of which will be within easy reach of theoperator. At this point a three-way cock, H, is placed, (see Fig. 7,)said cock having an opening, H, to the air, so that by turning the plugh either branch of pipe G may be thrown open, or they may be connectedtogether, as in Fig. 7. The pipe G is continued past its loop to thevalve chamber of the engine E.

The'operation of the above-described device is as follows: The enginebeing in place on the table, the hose J is coupled to the air-hose ofthe engine or tender and the compressed air 65 top of the cylinder, asshown in Fig. 5.

allowed to escape from the reservoir on the engine through pipe I intothe reservoir F of the table. XVhen a sufficient supply has beenaccumulated in the reservoir, the operator moves the cock H (which hasbeen theretofore placed so as to close the conduit G) so as to connectthe two branches of G. The air will then escape into the cylinder ofengine E through an ordinary valve-chamber, and the engine, being set inmotion, will rotate the shaft on which the cog-gears e 0 have theirbearings. The operator engages either of these wheels with said shaft bymeans of the cl utch-lever K, which is actuated through rod is and leverK,

the last lever being placed close to valve H, so

that both can be reached from the same spot. In this way the engine ismade to revolve the shaft 0 in either direction, and this shaft, bymeans of its gear-wheels O engaging with rack 0, causes the table A torevolve on its pivot.

When the table is moved to its desired position, the operator closes thecock H, stopping the flow of air to the engine. Indeed, by alternatelyopening and shutting the cock H a valve-chamber can be dispensed with,the return-stroke of the engine-piston being brought about by a spring,as in the other form of engine shown in the drawings, Figs. 4 and 5.

The reservoir F is a valuable addition to my device, as air can bestored in it in quantity sufficient to operate the engine on the tablefor a considerable time without drawing more air from engines beinghandled. It may, however, be dispensed with and the air conveyed di- 5rectly from the locomotive to the table-engine,

and of course this would be necessary in cases where steam was usedinstead of air to actuate the table.

J, Fig. 1, indicates a prolongation of the .0 hose J, adapted to makeconnection with the boiler of the locomotive where steam is used toactuate the engine of the table.

In Figs. 4, 5, and 6 I have illustrated aspecial form of actuatingengine orengines which, 5 by reason of their simplicity and cheapness, I

prefer to use. As shown in these drawings, I secure at both ends of thetables cylindrical engines I) E, which at their upper ends are pivotedto the table, preferably as shown, be-

tween the cross-girders L, which sustain the trailing wheels. Theseengines consist (see Fig. 5) of a cylinder, M, pivoted at its top on abearing, m. A supporting-casting, M, sesecured between the girders L,should be employed to sustain this bearing, and an adjustable stop, on,is advisable to prevent the cylinder from swinging down below a certainangle. In the cylinder M is a piston, N, which should of course fitneatly, and a piston-rod,

6o 11, attached to the piston, passes out of the from each other by aslightly greater distance than the breadth of the rack l, hereinafterdescribed, said arms being arranged so as to project below a crossbar,I, which extends between and is supported by them.

IP' is a toothed rack of circular form extending around the bottom ofthe pit B, and so placed as to come directly beneath the end of rod a.

p represents the recesses beneath the teeth of said rack.

(1} indicates a flexible pipe or hose,by which the conduit for air orsteamis connected with the cylinder M. \Vhere, as in Fig. 4, twoengines, E E, are used, the conduit G isbranched into two pipes, G Gstop-cocks R It" being placed in the said pipes at points near andwithin reach of the cock H.

In adjusting the apparatus for use the stop m should be so arranged thatthe lowest position of the cylinder M will, when the piston is in itsuppermost position, enable the crossbar P on the end of the pistonrod ato clear the tops of the teeth in rack I. while the arms 11 of thecross-head P still extend down the edges of the rack. The engines E I]on the opposite sides of the table are arranged to point and operate inopposite directions with respect to the circular rack, as shown in Fig.4. The operator, wishing to turn the table, then opens one of the cocks,R or R, thus connecting either of the engines, E or E, with the conduitG, according to the direction in which he wishes to turn the table. Thenby turning the cock H he opens the conduit G and the air will pass fromthe reservoir F to the connected engine, (say E,) the piston N of whichwill be forced down. The bar I will enter one of the spaces 1), and,being held there, the continued movement of the piston will result inturning the table in the opposite direction. Vhen the downward movementof piston N is complete or sufficient, the operator turns cock II so asto close the conduitleading from the point of supply and open theconduit lead ing to the engine into the open air. The steam or air inthe cylinder will then of course escape, and the spring 0 will force thepiston to the top of the cylinder and lift the bar I above the level ofrack 1. Any number of strokes may be made in this way by repeating thebefore-described movements of cock H, and the table thus turned to anydesired position. To reverse the motion of the table, the cock It shouldbe closed and cock "t" opened. The same manipulations of cock II willthen actuate the engine E", which, operating in the same way as E, willturn the table in the re verse direction.

Ofcourse a single pivoted engine,such as is shown in Fig. 5, can be usedinstead of two.

It will sometimes be advantageous to supply compressed air or steam toactuate the table from a distance-as, for instance, where a locomotiveor car to be turned has not the necessary appliances for connecting withthe hose on the table. Iprovide for such cases in the way indicated inFigs; 8 and 9, in which I 1s a pipe leading from the reservoir-tank F tothe center of the table, where by means of a universal joint, 1 itconnects with a vertical pipe, 1 said vertical pipe leading down throughthe center of the pivotal support of the table andhaving at its lowerend any desired number of branches 1 I 850., which run outward beyondthe limits of the pit B and are broughtto the surface and provided withcoupling hose J at any convenient point. As shown in said figures of thedrawings, these pipes I run outward along the different tracks,

centering in the turn-table, so as to connect I 5 with a locomotive onany of said tracks.

Having now described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, isv 1. In combination with a turntable and anengine arranged to rotate said table, a conduit leading from said engineto a storage-tank, a conduit leading from the storage-tank, and acoupling-hose secured on the end of said lastinentioned conduit,substantially as specified, and so that the engine and table can beconnected with and operated by a locomotive on or near the said table.

2. The combination, with a turn-table, of an engine supported on thetable and arranged to turn the same when in motion, a conduit leadingfrom the engine-cylinder to a point on or near the table, acoupling-hose secured on the end of said conduit, and a valve situatedin the conduit, whereby the admission of air or steam to theengine-cylinder can be controlled.

3. The combination, with a turn-table,of an engine supported on thetable and arranged to turn the same when in motion, a storage tanksecured on the table, a conduit leading from the engine-cylinder to thesaid storage-tank, a conduit leading from the storage-tank to a point onor near the table, a coupling-hose secured on the end of said conduit,whereby it can be connected with the air-brake system of an engine, anda valve situated in the conduit connecting the tank and engine, wherebythe air can be admitted at will to said engine.

4. The combination, witha turntable, of an engine supported on the tableand arranged to turn the same when in motion, a storagetank secured onthe'table, a conduit leading from the engine-cylinder to the saidstorage tank, a conduit leading from the storage tank to a pointon ornear the table, a coupling-hose secured on the end of said conduit,whereby it can be connected with the air-brake system of an engine, anda three-way valve, H, situated in the conduit connecting the storagetankand engine, whereby the air can, at will, be admitted to or permitted toescape from the engine-cylinder.

5. The combination, wit-h a turn table, of an engine supported thereonand arranged to turn the table when in operation, a storage-tank, aconduit connecting the storage-tank and engine-cylinder and having aloop formed in it so as to project above the surface of the table,

a three-way cock situated in said loop above the surface of the tableand arranged to open or close the conduit or to connect theenginecylinder with the open air, a conduit leading from thestorage-tank to a point on the end of the-table at which the three-waycock is situated, and a coupling-hose secured on the end of saidconduit, and whereby connection can be made between the tank and theair-brake system of a locomotive on the table.

6. The combination, with a turntable, of an engine supported thereon andarranged to turn the table when in operation, a storage-tank, a conduitconnecting the storagetank and engine-cylinder and having a loop formedin it so as to project above the surface of the table, a three-way cocksituated in said loop above the surface of the table and arranged toopen or close the conduit or to connect the enginecylinder with the openair, a conduit leading from the storage-tank to a point on the end ofthe table at which the three-way cock is situated, a coupling-hosesecured on the end of said conduit, and whereby connection can be madebetween the tank and the airbrake system of a locomotive on the table, aconduit leading from the storage-tank to a pipe or conduit passingthrough the center of the tablepivot, and one or more pipes or conduitsconnecting with said last-mentioned conduit and leading from it to apoint or points near the turn-table.

7. In combination with a turn-table, a stationary circular rack securedaround said table, a pivoted engine-cylinder, M, secured to one end ofsaid table and having an opening near its upper end, a piston and rodworking in said cylinder, a spring arranged beneath the piston to forceit upward in the cylinder, a head on the end of the piston-rod arrangedto engage the rack when the piston is forced down, a conduit connectedwith the opening in cylinder M, a coupling-hose connected directly orindirectly with said conduit, and a valve situated in saidconduit,whereby the engine-cylinder can be operated, as specified.

8. In combination with a turn-table, a stationary circular rack securedaround said table, a pivoted engine-cylinder, M, secured to one end ofsaid table and having an opening near its upper end, a stop arranged toprevent the cylinder from falling below a determined oblique position, apiston and rod working in said cylinder, a spring arranged beneath thepiston to force it upward in the cylinder, a head on the end of thepiston-rod arranged to engage the rack when the piston is forced down, aconduit connected with the opening in cylinder M, a coupling-hoseconnected directly or indirectly with said conduit, and a valve situatedin said conduit, whereby the enginecylinder can be operated, asspecified.

9. In combination with a turntable, a stationary circular rack securedaround said table, a pivoted engine cylinder, M, secured to one end ofsaid table and having an opening near its npperend, astop arranged toprevent the cylinder from falling below a determined oblique position, apiston and rod working in said cylinder, a spring arranged beneath thepiston to force it upward in the cylinder, a head on the end of thepiston-rod arranged to engage the rack when the piston isforccd down, anair-reservoir secured upon the table, a conduit connecting theair-reservoir and enginecylinder, a three-way valve situated in saidconduit, and a conduit leading to the air-reservoir and having anair-coupling hose at its free end, all substantially as and for thepurpose described.

10. In combination with a turn-table, a rack, P, secured around the pitthereof, engine-cylinders M M, pivoted at each end of said table,pistons and rods N O, fitting in said cylinders and having heads P",adapted to engage the rack, springs to hold the piston and itsconnections normally in their uppermost position, conduits G G leadingfrom the cylinders to a conduit, G, valves R R", for closing or openingsaid conduits at will, a conduit, G, i

leading from a union of conduits, G G and having directly or indirectlyconnected with it a coupling-hose, and a threeway valve, H, situated insaid last-mentioned conduit.

11. In combination with aturn-taole, a rack, 1 secured around the pitthereof, engine-cylinders M M, pivoted at each end of said table, pistonand rods N O, fitting in said cylinders and having heads P adapted toengage the rack, springs to hold the piston and its connections normallyin their uppermost position, conduits G G, leading from the cylinders toa conduit, G, valves R R, for closing or opening said conduits at will,a conduit, G, leading from a union of conduits, G G, to a storagetank,said storage-tank, anda conduit leading thereto and having acoupling-hose secured to its free end.

JOHN D. BOWMAN.

\Vil nesses:

FRANK A. MULLIKIN, JOSHUA MATLAOK, Jr.

